The first murder recorded in history was the murder of Abel. You know the story. Abel was killed by his brother Cain (Genesis 4:8). Why did he murder him? Family can sometimes equal foe.
Take a look at Genesis 4:4-5: “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”
Cain was jealous of his brother Abel.
The Lord, knowing the heart of Cain, warned him:
“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire and thou shalt rule over him.”
– Genesis 4:7
If we don’t deal with the sin that rises within our heart, it will have its way with us. It will have its way within our families.
Family can sometimes equal foe.
Consider Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. This story is found in Genesis 37. Joseph’s brothers hated him and could not speak a kind word to him because their father loved him most:
“And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.”
– Genesis 37:4-5
Do you think these situations occur only in biblical times?
Absolutely not. It is ever present among us today, but who wants to talk about it? Who wants to talk about the fact that they are hated by their own family? It can be difficult to acknowledge that you’ve been hurt more by family than by friends.
Families are far from perfect, despite all the smiling pictures you see on your Facebook newsfeed. No one knows the heart of men except God:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
– Jeremiah 17:9
Only the Lord can see right through to the heart.
How do we respond to these family troubles?
It is imperative that we allow the Lord to show us the hearts of those around us. We must be wise enough to know that we are living real life and family can sometimes equal foe, for whatever reason.
I encourage you to rely on the Lord so that you are able to overcome the bitterness, the hurt, and the anger. Only God can make our hurts work for our good. His Word tells us that He works all things for our good (Romans 8:28).
Don’t succumb to evil, overcome evil with good, but be wise enough to know that family can sometimes equal foe.
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
– Romans 12:19
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